Celtics look to bounce back vs. Pelicans

The Boston Celtics will be trying to avoid back-to-back home losses when they face the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday.

After earning three victories during a four-game road trip, the Celtics dropped a 114-97 decision to Sacramento on Friday night. Boston’s home record fell to 13-7 with the loss.

The Celtics will enter Sunday’s matchup with a 6-6 record in their last 12 games.

“We’re gonna get past it,” Boston’s Kristaps Portzingis said following Friday’s game. “I’m telling you, I’m confident we’ll bounce back. We’re just having not the prettiest moment right now as a team, and it’s completely normal. But believe me, we’ll figure it out.”

Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said his team has to be more consistent on offense. The Celtics scored 55 points in the first half against Sacramento, but only 42 in the final two quarters. Boston struggled the most in the fourth quarter, when it was outscored 38-21.

Jayson Tatum committed eight turnovers in the loss.

“When you’re having an inefficient offense, it puts pressure on your defense,” Mazzulla said. Whether it’s shot-making, whether it’s execution, whether it’s spacing, I think that takes a toll on you. And then, if you’re going to shoot (26.8) percent from 3 (for the game), you’re going to have to do a bunch of other things, really, really, really well, and it puts pressure on your defense throughout the game. So we have to be better there.”

The Pelicans, who are at the bottom of the Western Conference standings, will be playing their second game of a three-game road trip Sunday. New Orleans was without Zion Williamson (one-game suspension) and Herb Jones (posterior labrum tear), but beat Philadelphia 123-115 Friday.

The Pelicans have won three of five since ending an 11-game losing streak by beating Washington 132-120 on Jan. 3.

“It’s a credit to all of our guys and the character in that locker room,” New Orleans coach Willie Green said. “Dealing with a lot the last couple days or so, they pulled together and went out and competed for 48 minutes. Played hard. Really solid defense. Shared the ball offensively. All of the things we talk about. All of our concepts. I’m really proud of this group. … Good win on the road for us.”

The Pelicans are expected to have Williamson back in the lineup Sunday, but announced Friday that Jones will be out indefinitely with his injury. In addition to being one of the team’s best defensive players, Jones is averaging 10.3 points per game in 20 contests this season.

Williamson, who was suspended after reportedly arriving late for a team flight, has played in just seven of the Pelicans’ 39 games this season. He’s averaging 22.6 points and 7.7 rebounds per game.

The Pelicans are 3-15 in road games.

“With us having guys out, missing some of our key guys, I talk about it all the time, but the margin for error is small, so taking care of the basketball is key so we have more opportunities to get quality shots,” Green said. “We want to offensive rebound. We want to finish possessions defensively so we can get out in transition and play some of our best basketball.”

–Field Level Media

SOURCE: REUTERS

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Bryan Bagunas parts ways with talent management

Alas Pilipinas’ ace Bryan Bagunas has parted ways with his management, Avior Talent Management, amid its ongoing conflict with the Cignal HD Spikers.

The 27-year-old open hitter, who also plays for the Cignal HD Spikers, shared the news of the separation on his social media platforms.

“I would like to officially announce that my partnership with Avior Talent Management has ended. I am very much thankful for the growth and all the experiences we have shared, and I am thrilled to embrace new opportunities in the future,” Bagunas wrote.

Avior is the same agency that manages veteran volleyball players Riri Meneses and Ces Molina, who also recently announced their departure from Cignal.
The agency is currently facing legal troubles after the HD Spikers management revealed plans to take legal action against Meneses and Molina for their alleged contract breach.

Meanwhile, Bagunas is focusing on recovering from a knee injury he sustained while playing for Alas in last year’s SEA V.League.

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Kenneth Tuffin’s go-ahead basket lifts Phoenix over Rain or Shine

Kenneth Tuffin converted a go-ahead basket as the Phoenix Fuel Masters pulled off a 93-91 victory over the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Saturday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.

With the score tied at 91-all, Fuel Masters’ Jason Perkins was thwarted by the Painters’ defense, but Tuffin was in the right place at the right time, scoring a crucial tip-in with 0.7 seconds left.

The Painters had a chance to steal the victory, but Deon Thompson’s three-point attempt was blocked by Donovan Smith of the Fuel Masters.
Tuffin finished with eight points and three rebounds, helping the Fuel Masters secure their first winning streak of the conference and improve to a 3-5 record.

Smith led the team with 22 points and 10 rebounds, Tyler Tio added 16 points, while Ryan Roose Garcia, Jason Perkins, and RJ Jazul chipped in 14, 12, and 11 points, respectively.

“This is a big win for us, our first winning streak for us this conference; we are just very proud,” said Fuel Masters head coach Michael Jay Jarin after the game. “This is a collective effort among all our players.”

Thompson tallied 22 points and 13 rebounds, Leonard Santillan added 19 markers, while Adrian Nocum and Jhonard Clarito had 16 and 11, respectively, as the Painters fell to a 5-2 record.

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Bomogao dazzles anew in Bangkok

Pinoy Muay Thai fighter Islay Bomogao scored her second consecutive victory in ONE Championship with a dominant win over China’s Ran Longshu in ONE Friday Fights 93 at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

The Baguio City native weathered an early barrage from Ran in their three-round, 101-lb catchweight bout, as the Chinese fighter attempted to smother her with close-quarter exchanges.

Bomogao responded with sharp elbows and even dropped Ran with a well-placed front kick.

She later controlled the distance, landing kicks from afar and knees in the clinch.

Despite a late rally from the Chinese fighter in the final seconds, Bomogao remained poised and secured the decision victory.

The skilled striker from the Philippines improved her ONE record to a perfect 2-0.

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Raptors waive journeyman C Bruno Fernando

The Toronto Raptors waived center Bruno Fernando on Tuesday, bringing their roster to 14, including three two-way players.

Fernando, 26, played in 17 games (two starts) this season after signing as a free agent in the summer. He averaged 3.4 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 8.6 minutes per game.

A Maryland product, Fernando was a second-round pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. He has appeared in 220 games (21 starts) with four franchises and has career averages of 4.0 points and 3.2 rebounds.

–Field Level Media (Source: REUTERS)

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Reports: Suns to use Bradley Beal, Jusuf Nurkic off bench

In the midst of seven losses in the past eight games, the Phoenix Suns will remove Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurkic from the starting lineup beginning with Monday’s road game against the Philadelphia 76ers, multiple outlets reported.

Rookie Ryan Dunn and veteran big man Mason Plumlee are expected to start for Beal and Nurkic on Monday as the Suns try to end a four-game losing streak.

The Suns enter Monday’s game in the middle of the pack in the NBA with 112.1 points per game, with the lineup change a potential boon to Phoenix’s second unit.

Beal, 31, has started all 23 games he has played this season, scoring 17.8 points with 3.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists. He last came off the bench in the 2015-16 season for the Washington Wizards.

Nurkic, 30, also has started in 23 games this season, averaging 8.8 points with 9.5 rebounds. His last significant action in a reserve role came when he played 17 games off the bench in the 2016-17 season for the Denver Nuggets and Portland Trail Blazers.

Dunn, 21, has averaged 6.5 points in 29 games (13 starts) this season, while the 34-year-old Plumlee has averaged 4.3 points with 6.1 rebounds in 32 games (10 starts). Dunn was a first-round selection by the Suns in the 2024 draft.

–Field Level Media (Source: REUTERS)

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Bucks F Khris Middleton (ankle) out vs. Raptors

Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton will not play in Monday’s road game against the Toronto Raptors with ankle tendonitis, NBA insider Chris Haynes reported.

Middleton missed the Bucks’ first 21 games after offseason surgery on both ankles. He made his season debut Dec. 6 and has averaged 12.7 points with 5.0 assists and 4.4 rebounds in 12 games.

In 13 NBA seasons, the three-time All-Star has averaged 16.8 points with 4.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 751 games (657 starts) for the Detroit Pistons (2012-13) and Bucks.

–Field Level Media (Source: REUTERS)

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